Drugs, alcohol and sexual safety

There are a number of services across Scotland offering guidance and support if you are struggling with alcohol:

• Alcoholics Anonymous Edinburgh & Midlothian – holds 95 meetings a week, both face to face and online. Get support from others who understand what you’re going through and have overcome similar challenges.
• Al-Anon Family Groups Scotland – Daily support meetings
• ELCA Counselling Service – works with people aged 18 and over who are worried about their own drinking or the drinking of a family member, partner or friend.
• Locality recovery hubs – a one-stop shop for treatment and support for those with drug or alcohol problems

Crew is a charity offering confidential support around drugs, sexual health and mental health.

Crew neither condemns nor condones drug use. The charity exists to reduce harm, challenge perceptions and help people make positive choices about their use of cannabis, stimulant and other social drugs and sexual health by providing non-judgemental, credible and up to date information and support.

Some of the services offered include:

• Free confidential counselling for people concerned about their stimulant drug use, e.g. cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines.
• A drop-in space on Cockburn Street for information, confidential advice, one-to-one support, free safe sex materials, blood-borne virus and pregnancy testing, DJ workshops and more!
• Nightlife Harm Reduction at clubs and festivals to keep people safe by offering welfare, advice, harm reduction information and immediate crisis support.

Simpson’s House is a confidential recovery and counselling service for adults affected by drug use. It offers support to anyone in Edinburgh who has been affected by past or present drug use, whether it’s your own or someone else's.

Useful resources:

• Crew website
• Crew information on drugs
• Simpson’s House counselling and recovery service
• Rapid Action Drug Alerts and Response – alerts related to new drugs, trends and harms

• GambleAware – for gambling help and addiction
• GamCare, founder of the National Gambling Helpline, also offers:
  • 24/7 helpline on 0808 8020 133
  • Live chat
  • WhatsApp chat on 020 3031 8881
  • Online community to connect with others who have experienced similar situations through online peer support spaces
  • Email support
  • Local support
• Gamblers Anonymous Scotland

Lothian Sexual and Reproductive Health Service provides a range of services at the Chalmers Centre in Edinburgh and at local clinics across the Lothian area. You can get information about:

• Free condoms
• Online booking
• STIs, including chlamydia and HIV
• Young People’s Services
• Gender clinic – for trans and non-binary people looking for more information
• Men who have sex with men
• Planning a pregnancy
• Planning a termination (abortion)
• What to do in an emergency
• Specialist services – including psychosexual therapy, menopause, vasectomy and more

Roam Outreach is a sexual health service for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with mem in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

• SARCO – Another way – This service works with any woman over 18 who is at risk of or involved in sex work. It offers non-judgemental one-to-one support for as long or as little as you need, including if you are planning to exit.
• SCOT-PEP – A sex worker-led charity that advocates for the safety, rights and health of everyone who sells sex in Scotland.

We know a big part of university life is meeting new people and socialising - and Edinburgh is a fantastic city to be in! But you can take simple measures to keep yourself and your friends safe on nights out, such as:

• Plan how to get home
• Keep your phone on you and make sure it's fully charged before you head out
• Don't leave your drinks unattended - and if you do, leave it and get a new one
• Be sensible about how much alcohol you drink and keep an eye on any friends who look vulnerable
• Stick with friends when you leave and operate a buddy system to make sure everyone gets home safe
• Keep enough money to pay for your journey home at the end of the night

Our safeguarding team at Edinburgh Napier is here to protect students and staff from harm and abuse. We are committed to providing a safe and protected environment for you to work and study in.

If you have any questions or concerns, email safeguarding@napier.ac.uk

Report and Support allows anyone who has experienced sexual violence, harassment, misconduct or any form of hate crime to report or disclose incidents to the University.

If you've been subjected to any form of misconduct, you can tell us either anonymously or by reporting to an adviser through Report and Support.

Police Scotland have developed a Student Safety Hub with a range of resources aimed at keeping you safe at university, including:

• Staying safe on nights out
• Protecting your valuables
• Online safety
• Safety in relationships

Strut Safe is a UK-wide phone line. If you're walking alone, their volunteers will be a friendly voice to keep you company and help you feel safe until you are through the door.

0333 335 0026

• Fridays and Saturdays: 7pm-3am
• Sundays: 7pm-1am

Find out more at strutsafe.org

Edinburgh Nightline is a confidential and non-judgemental support and information charity, run by students, for students. The listening volunteers ensure every student has the opportunity to talk about their feelings in a safe, non-judgemental environment.

• 0131 557 4444
• 8pm till 8am for 5 days a week:  Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Find out more at ednightline.com